Holiday Drinks: Five Delicious Champagnes Under $50

Celebrating the Season with Sparklers That are Easy on Your Wallet

By Jeanne Muchnick

With the holidays approaching and the recession still in our rear-view mirror, we aimed to find five delicious Champagnes for under $50 each. Here, budget-friendly ways to ring in the New Year (and other special occasions), courtesy of Katonah resident and wine consultant W. R. Tish (wineforall.com), who also serves as managing editor of the trade magazine Beverage Media.

Pretty in Pink

Rosé Champagne adds a dimension of both color and fruitiness not normally found in NV (non-vintage) bruts. Normally pricier than the “regular” stuff, you can serve or gift in confidence with Deutz Rosé ($48)—a good bet that also looks good come Valentine’s Day.
Purchase at: Zachys, 16 East Parkway, Scarsdale (866) 922-4971; zachys.com

Feeling gifty?

Nicolas Feuillatte, which is produced by a cooperative, delivers all the toasty/yeasty flavor and length you look for in “real” Champagne—without the high price tag. They also excel at holiday gift-packages; a full bottle plus two flutes is only $30.99.
Purchase at: Westchester Wine Warehouse, 53 Tarrytown Rd (914) 824-1400; westchesterwine.com

For Chardo-philes

Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made with 100 percent Chardonnay. The trick is balancing the grape’s richness with freshness and elegance. The Ariston Aspasie NV “B de B” ($45) pulls it off with finesse and plenty of aromatic perlage (tiny bubbles).
Purchase at: Rochambeau, 389 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry (914) 693-0034; rochambeauwines.com

Brimming with Class

A bit of an underdog in the U.S., Gosset is one of Champagne’s oldest houses, and the basic sparkler—called Brut Excellence ($45.99)—tends to surprise with a penetrating acidity and a long finish, which flatters almost any food.
Purchase at: Bedford Wine Merchants, 24 Village Green, Bedford (914) 234-6012; bedfordwinemerchants.com